Frat Row dorms: The seven converted frat and sorority houses host some of the most tight-knit communities on campus—-Piper, Drummond, Goddard-Hodgkins, Treworgy, Pierce, Perkins-Wilson, and Grossman. Accommodations are spare, with only two floors of housing hosting around 30 students per dorm. While drafty windows and tiny showers may turn some off, others report the settings create a bond between floor neighbors and members of nearby Frat Row houses. Colby officials have announced plans to renovate Frat Row dorms within the next few years.
Central campus dorms: The Heights, Hillside, AMS, and Averill dorms are located on the east side of campus, and their central location and recent construction makes them preferred upperclass housing. The Heights, situated behind the chapel, is known for its big suites and bigger parties. Hillside and AMS (a conglomeration of three dorms—-Anthony, Mitchell, and Schupf) lay partway up the hill towards Johnson Pond and house a number of suites attractive to juniors and seniors. According to Jake Fischer ’10, “There is a rumor that [Hillside] was built during the 70s to be riot-proof, and as a result has winding hallways and a somewhat confusing layout.” Averill is the most centrally located, right next to Miller Library, and is one of the better-maintained dorms on campus.
Lower campus dorms: The third cluster of housing is located at the base of Mayflower Hill, close to the President’s quarters, is comprised of Mary Low, Coburn, Dana, Foss, Woodman dorms. This end of campus lends itself to more sedate living arrangements than the rowdy up-campus houses. Mary Low, named for Colby’s first female student, is currently chemical-free, meaning that students can’t drink or return to the premises drunk. Coburn is zoned as a “quiet dorm” and enforces "quiet hour" 24 hours a day. Foss and Woodburn are connected across a small quad by a vegan-friendly dining hall, giving it a reputation for housing hippies. Dana, the biggest dorm on campus, is also down campus and serves more traditional fare in the dining hall on the first floor. Other themed housing is pervasive in these dorms, and administrators have welcomed such creations as Spanish Language Housing, Green Housing, and Art and Music Housing, according to Christine Friar ’10.
He may be Colby’s 19th president, but you can call William Adams "Bro." Seriously, that’s his name. Bro Adams assumed the mantle at Colby College in 2000 after serving for five years as president of Bucknell University, where he gained a reputation as a gangbusters fundraiser, and he hasn’t disappointed the Colby community so far with his ability to smooth-talk donors into supporting his vision for increased financial aid for middle-class students. Adams attended Colorado College and held an administrative post at nearby Wesleyan, and he claims he felt drawn to the Colby community during his first Waterville visit.
Adams recent attempts to quell Colby’s largest alcoholiday, Doghead Day, have not been well-received. But Doghead Day continues, and so does Bro. Students report he’s regularly spotted hanging out on campus and holds open office hours daily to connect better with the Colby community.
Billy Bush (1994) is a TV personality.
Doris Kearns Goodwin (1964) is a historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
Elijah Lovejoy (1826) was an abolitionist.
E. Annie Proulx (1957) is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Brokeback Mountain."
Tara Allain (2008) is Miss Maine 2007.